Literatea

Located behind Doheny Library, this little tea and coffee shop is convenient. There are tables and chairs located both inside and outside the place. This is a very popular spot for students so do not be surprised if there is a long line or if you cannot find any empty tables. This spot is cheaper than the Starbucks located by Birnkrant and they even have popping boba for your tea!
Definitely a must on campus!

Nice service! The girl behind the counter was helpful and directed to me to an iced Americano for this semi warm day. I needed it too!!!
Note to manager: fix your hot water Bunn so it doesn’t burn your employees! Poor things!!!

This is a teeny little coffee shop in the bottom of Doheny. Sadly in the summer it is only open till 2, which means I have to go to the psychotically crowded Starbucks thats a few buildings over if I want anything later in the afternoon. Very nice ladies working behind the counter, a variety of coffee and tea drinks available, some food, snacks, and pastries available. A microwave on the counter which no one minds if you use to nuke your lunch. Lovely little seating area that unfortunately is a bit too noisy for me, but the café is situated next to a courtyard which is perfect for eating lunch in or getting some work done before the day starts.

Located on the USC campus, this little café shop was a bright shiny light in the craziness that was the Festival of Books.
That said, the bright light got dimmer and dimmer as my time spent in here increased. A giant event like the Festival of Books and there is one employee here running the joint by himself? How’d he draw that short straw?!
The line was long as this was one of the few places selling things other than $ 3 bottled water. I was excited enough by their expansive list of Chado house teas to wait in the line though! Sadness occurred when I got to the front of the line (finally) and was told they had run out of everything but plain black iced tea. I like black iced tea, but after seeing all the yummy other flavors available it was a bit disappointing.
I understand it’s a big event day, but shouldn’t that be more of a reason to schedule more employees and more stock? I give stars for the originality of the name, the menu, and the few comfy places they have to sit, and another star for understanding that it was a big crazy day, but bright shiny light went out.

I would have given them a 5 star, because this place is awesome. But there was one time I saw a fly stuck inside the pastry cabin…
The secret garden, a shaded courtyard behind the mystic Doheny library. To the side of little side way, there is Literatea. The barista is always nice and makes conversations and recommendations. I believe we, the only scrub wearing nerd at USC main campus do get special treatments, people behave better in our presence :)
Any how, they serve Chado tea, in a pot, with China tea cups, on a tray. To me, that is heavenly getaway from our monotone dental building.

Awesome place to get coffee or tea. Definitely a great alternative to grab a cup of joe if you don’t want to wait in the long lines at Tro Gro.

I love this café so very much! I would give it 5 stars though if it were open past 6 pm. It reminds me of all my favorite coffee joints I loved on Cambridge as an undergraduate.

Yay Literatea! If you’re hungry or want food go elsewhere because Literatea has a pretty small food menu and their pastries are nothing special. Whatever actual meals there are are refrigerated and overpriced. However I love Literatea’s drinks with all the power in my shriveled up little heart.
Literatea is cozy and quiet and not teeming with freshmen who think they need a triple shot coffee to be mentally present at their 9am Taper lecture. Good place to chill and decompress between classes if you commute like me. Go sip on some tea in the courtyard while watching a WRIT140 TA rip a dude in a tanktop a new asshole. The joys of college life.

Although it is conveniently located on my way to work or to study at the library, Literatea is mediocre at best. The selection of baked goods and deli items is limited and there are only a few spots to sit because the café itself is tiny. There’s also a line most of the time because only one cashier is working at any given time. I go here because it’s convenient but wouldn’t make a special trip for it.

The drinks at this place are just ok. Their drink options are comparable with other places on the campus. The place is very small, it is usually better to stop by here when the lines are far too long elsewhere. Aside from that if you are in a rush, this is one place to get a drink.

No wait! and a great alternative to starbucks’ long line.
I tried this place for the first time this morning. I ordered a chai tea latte, extra hot. For a small my drink was $ 3.29. Great price, and my drink was extra hot just like i asked for!
I didnt know about this place until my friend showed me, i will most definitely come back for their chai latte. I didnt get the coffee so I am not able to rate or review about their coffee but expect another post soon!
What i love about this place is that there are bagels!.. that you are able to toast right there… so breakfast food. coffee. no line. you are set to go!

When the starbucks line at TroGo is too way, this is the place to go for your coffee/​ice tea fix. Nothing fancy, just quick and fast service.
Make sure to use your student ID card for a discount.

Service is great but like all hospitality owned places on campus, it’s overpriced.

Nice hidden away tea-​house near the back of Doheny Library. I really like their English Breakfast tea here =D They have expanded some of their food options so that’s nice but it’s more of a snack/​quick place. There isn’t too much space to sit inside but there is a lot of room outside on the patio which is awesome when it’s a nice and sunny day.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! It’s great for studying, getting a quick bite, or getting some tea. Their teas are great and they have loose leaf teas. I personally love their yogurt parfaits. I legitimately used to get this every day for a semester for a snack. Their Moroccan Mint Tea Latte is my new favorite thing to get on a cold day. It’s very milky and minty and delicious. Overally, a great place on campus to get anything you need between classes.

A well-​concealed USC gem. Literatea is my favorite place to set up and read a book with a cup of good strong tea. I recommend the Bolivian Black tea if you like your cup to have a strong kick. The ambiance is just great– USC needs more places like this. The courtyard is a great place to hang out, especially if you’re amused by freshmen stressing out about Writing 340 essay conferences.
It’s funny because everyone thinks that they’re special because they know about this place, but it’s a lot more popular than people think. Tea is a universal beverage which unites all people (at least those worth talking to).

One of USC’s many cafes. A little too tiny and cramped for me to want to sit and study here, but it was a good alternative for grabbing coffee or tea instead of waiting through the usually horrendous lines at TroGro. They do have some nice outdoor seating here, though.

They now serve Jones Coffee — growers, roasters, and importers from Pasadena. Keeping it local!

Literatea? They should really rename this USC café «Shannon’s Favorite Things.» A decent tea latte really gets my engine going, and they have a wide assortment of grab-​and-​go vegan entrees. WHAT! So many times, when I forget to pack food, I’m stuck buying an expensive avocado roll at Seed, and it just makes me sad. Literatea = happiness.
Not to say it’s perfect. There are no vegan desserts to tempt me, and they make their tea lattes like Starbucks, with the teabag stuck inside, which I deplore. Please, brew the tea first, then make the latte! Annoying as that is, however, the Sassy Chai latte is the real deal. Spicy, not overly sweet (even with soy milk!), and made with real looseleaf tea as opposed to Oregon Chai. And, a small is only $ 2.99!!! Be still my heart.
Service is fast and friendly, and it’s a little oasis tucked behind Doheny library, which just happens to be my favorite building on campus.

Directly across from Alumni Park, this quaint little place is my favorite stop at USC. With a robust arrangement of foods (bakery-​fresh sweets, snacks, salads, sushi, and their unique assortment of ready-​to-​eat vegetarian and vegan Indian foods) as well as Peet’s coffee and a special variety of loose-​leaf organic teas that you can’t get anywhere else on campus, it’s a divine slice of heaven conveniently located inside Doheny.
While most students who haven’t lived on that side of campus don’t know about it, its clientele are loyal, and it’s always busy, though never too busy. I used to go here every other day or so. Now that I’ve moved, it’s no longer convenient, and it’s the only thing I miss about the dorms on the south side of campus.
The syrups that they use for flavored coffees and lattes is French, and really fantastic. If you want a real gourmet coffee and have time to savor it in a real porcelain mug with a nice scone or croissant, I’d say that you should definitely opt for Literatea. I can’t say enough nice things about this place.
Oh: USC Faculty, administrators, and grad students are here all the time. You know it’s got to be good when it’s not just freshman buying here.
There was this one time I remember I was taking forever to find my credit card in my super-​messy purse… and the guy in line behind me nicely paid for my drink and croissant. That’s a happy memory I have from here. :)
There’s just one detractor: the USC wifi SUCKS here. Not the fault of the people who run the place, but seriously, could something be done about it? Then again, if they fixed it to run better, then you’d never be able to kick me out… so perhaps it’s a strategy.